Excavation and trench work is the most hazardous construction operations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines an excavation as any trench, cut, or cavity that is made by man. These depressions in the ground are made by removing the earth. A trench is a narrow underground area that has been excavated to be deeper than it is wide, but it cannot be wider than 15 feet. So why is trench safety so important?

There are dangers with any construction work, but when it comes to trenching there is a risk that a cave-in could occur. Cave-ins could result in the loss of life and are much more likely to cause fatalities than any other excavation-related accident. There are many other risks, such as falling loads, falls, and the risks of working with mobile equipment. There are hundreds of workers injured and dozens killed by trench cave-ins every year.

Properly Protect Yourself From Trench Collapses

Workers should never enter a trench that isn’t protected. Trenches that are at least five feet deep should have a protective system unless it is in solid rock that is stable. Trenches that are 20 feet deep require a protective system to be designed by an engineer or based on tabulated data that has been prepared and reviewed by a qualified engineer.

Many effective protective systems are used for trenches. Shielding uses trench boxes or supports to keep the dirt from caving in. Shoring involves the installation of aluminum hydraulics or other kinds of supports to stop cave-ins or the movement of dirt. Sloping is an approach that involves cutting back the trench wall at an angle that is away from the point of excavation.

The design of a protective system can be complex since there are a variety of factors that must be taken into consideration. The engineer must consider the soil classification, the depth of the cut, the soil’s water content, climate or weather changes, and any other operations in the area. OSHA requires that the trenches be inspected on a daily basis, and if there are problems that arise, they must be corrected by a competent individual who is trained to handle such problems.

Most heavy equipment jobs require some degree of travel. For most, regardless of the accommodations, hotels and restaurant food; living out of a duffel bag gets old. When you are putting in long hours on a job, a clean bed with easy access to food and bathroom facilities makes the work much more enjoyable. Living conditions can create relaxing or miserable work conditions, especially in the more remote areas. Fortunately, RVs can provide a great way to make a work camp feel like home. Here are some of those ways.

The Comforts of Home

Unlike a hotel room or other nightly accommodations, an RV allows a lot more comfortable. Not only do you have your own bathroom facilities, but you can also bring easily bring and make your favorite foods and entertainment. There are many different types of RVs depending on what you want to live in, which makes them flexible for any setting. From self-contained, individual trailers, to large bunkhouses with residential amenities, the options are endless. Many crews find RV living incorporates well with the demands of the job.

The interior floor plans are also greatly variable. For those who enjoy cooking, there are full-scale kitchens with a microwave, stove, oven, and full-sized fridge so any meal is possible, regardless of where you end up for the night. Or if you want higher-end entertainment facilities, a full walk-in shower, or separate bedroom spaces, there are RV floor plans that can accommodate those needs. This can go a long way toward making the RV ideal accommodation for work camp positions.

One big feature of many RVs to provide a more home-like feeling is a washer and dryer. Being away from home for extended periods will inevitably result in the accumulation of laundry. While laundromats are common and hotels often have washing facilities, having the capability to do it in the RV can make a huge difference.

Efficiency and Consistency

For both workers and employers, having an efficient and consistent work camp makes a huge difference on the job. Since, RVs can be easily modified, adapted, and decorated to suit your needs, they make an easy to set up a work community wherever they are needed. If a worker owns the RV, they can do whatever modifications necessary to make it homier. Many employers are choosing RVs as an investment in comfort and convenience. The great part is it all comes with you when you need to move to another location.

Another alternative is to rent an RV at the location the work is taking place. This is efficient because you save travel costs and maintenance and repairs that are involved with RV ownership. So, you can set up a temporary work camp and return the RVs when everything is done.

Having a consistent home base makes for a pleasant and enjoyable community feel to a work camp, which is hard to match.

Safety and Security With RVs

Being able to choose where to set up a mobile work camp can have a big effect on how comfortable it feels. Places to park can vary greatly by location and can range from basic remote locations with no amenities to high-end resorts with pools, spas, and other fancy features. Often it works better to set up somewhere remote, or right at the job site. This can allow you to tailor the overall experience to your needs. This also serves dual purposes for safety and security. Sometimes, depending on the job, leaving your personal belongings for the day can be risky, in the same way, thefts from unsupervised work sites are also common, combining the two into one location minimizes the risk and simplifies the process.

This way everyone starts the day, refreshed from a comfortable night’s sleep with their favorite breakfast on hand. And they can end the day, by firing up the BBQ and enjoying what is left of the evening. For the purpose of setting up a work camp, RVs are a great way to make the experience homier and more comfortable for everyone.

At some time or another, you have seen tower cranes towering over a construction site. These are referred to as tower cranes, much as the appearance implies. They can lift as much as 19 tons and can reach as high as 265 feet. Operating a tower crane requires a lot of skill because the safety of an entire neighborhood could lie in the hands of the tower crane operator. Tower cranes are used to lift generators, large pieces of steel, and large air conditioning units among other larger and heavier items needed to construct a large building.

How Is A Tower Crane Constructed?

Tower cranes are constructed on a large and heavy concrete pad. The crane’s base is secured onto the support pad with heavy-duty bolts. The concrete pad is necessary for stability and the construction process. The pad is poured weeks before the construction process begins. The pad could be as large as 30 feet by 30 feet, can be as much as 4 feet thick, and weigh as much as 400,000 pounds. The large tower that reaches into the sky is referred to as the mast. On top of the mast is the slewing unit, which is the mechanical component that allows the rotation of the crane. The jib is a long arm extending from the crane, and the machinery arm is a shorter arm.

It can take up to a dozen tractor-trailers to haul in all the components for the tower crane. Mobile cranes are used to assemble the jib, the slewing unit, and the counterweights. The crane is grown from the base up using a climber to lift the topmost part of the crane with the jib, slewing unit, and machinery arm to allow the mast’s latticework to slide in, which the tower crane does itself using the jib. The lattice is secured then the process is repeated with the climber.

Training For Tower Cranes

If you are interested in a career in operating tower cranes, call the team at ATS Training School today.

Spring flooding has been harsh already this year, with several inches of rain hitting much of the U.S. and Canada. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), about two-thirds of the lower 48 states are facing a higher risk of flooding throughout the month of May. There is a potential risk for moderate to major flooding in 25 states, according to the spring outlook issued by NOAA in late March.

Most of the U.S. is facing precipitation in higher amounts than usual this spring, which is leading to a higher than usual risk for floods. Portions of the U.S. – specifically those in the upper Mississippi and Missouri River basins including the states of Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota – have seen record flooding already in 2019. The rapidly melting snow, combined with late-season snowfalls and heavy early spring rains in areas where moisture is high has led to major flooding issues.

Damages From Flood Waters

Drivers should never attempt to maneuver their vehicles through the high flood waters. You don’t know what lies under the water or how deep the water is in the roadway. Sometimes, landslides or water will take out the pavement underneath or cause deep sinkholes or damaging potholes. The highway crews will be out in full force, repairing potholes, fixing sinkholes, fixing bridge damage, and taking care of drainage issues that might result from the spring flooding.

News outlets have reported that there are millions of dollars in flood damage to the roadways already this spring. Those who don’t have flood insurance are urged to consider purchasing a policy. Most homeowners’ policies don’t cover flood damage. The National Flood Insurance Program reports that the average cost of one inch of flooding in a home is about $27,000 in repairs.

What Lies Ahead

If the rest of the year is like this year started out, then there will be a lot of roadwork needed the rest of the year. Construction crews that are experienced in assessing and repairing flood damage will be in demand.

After spring flooding, pothole season is underway. Highway departments across the country are scrambling for workers to repair potholes. According to some data released by different agencies, the average pothole costs $23 for Department of Transportation workers to repair and $129 for contractors to repair. Sealing cracks, which usually happen along with pothole repairs, costs about $327 per square mile when state workers do the job but cost, even more, when the job is done by contractors.

Knowledgeable individuals who can handle operating equipment, and repairing roads and potholes are needed by independent contractors as well as state and local highway departments. Pothole season is usually in full force by spring and this is especially true after a wet winter followed by spring rains.  The increased traffic can also affect the roadways and contribute to potholes and cracks. During pothole season, additional helpers may be needed to take care of pothole repairs.

Damage Caused By A Pothole

AAA reports that damage to vehicles caused by potholes costs drivers $3 billion annually. That doesn’t include the costs of fixing the potholes. Potholes are created when the top asphalt layer is penetrated by water through cracks in the roadway. After that water freezes, it will expand. Then when it melts, it will leave a void. Cars drive across that void and then the asphalt gets broken up, and a pothole is created. 

There is a demand for employees who can repair potholes. ATS offers training for a variety of jobs, including those that involve repairing roadways and filling potholes. To learn more about the construction training programs available year-round, contact ATS today. Being on the road construction crew is a great job that offers steady work. It pays well and ensures job security.

Learn more on US infrastructure and building the future.

The utility industry requires numerous workers to perform different duties. Many of these workers must work in boom trucks and work with or near power lines. To handle these duties, you must have the proper training to ensure the job is done properly and that you remain safe.

Anyone working with a boom truck, there are some specific precautions that must be given consideration. Here are some basic safety procedures for any situation where you will use a boom truck:

• Always wear a body belt as part of your restraint or tethering and make sure there is a lanyard secured to the basket or boom.
• Test the lift controls every day before they are used to ensure that they work properly.
• Don’t sit on the basket sides or climb on the basket, and always keep feet firm on the floor.
• Don’t exceed the maximum load set by the boom lift manufacturer.
• Be sure any jerky, sudden movements are avoided so the basket doesn’t collide with power lines or other nearby objects.

Follow Safety Protocol

When you are working in a boom lift near or on power lines, you should always use all the proper protective gear. That gear includes:

• Tools that are insulated
• Rubber sleeves and gloves
• Insulated hard hat
• Voltage-rated shoes

When working near power lines, use a boom lift that is designed for electrical work. These boom lifts have additional insultation to protect the workers from electrical currents, but remember, only certain parts of the lift may be protected by the insulation.

Here are some details about the insulated buckets:

• You should never try to alter or modify the basket insulation, as the protection level could be reduced.
• The portion completely covered by the basket liner is the only potion that is covered by it. Any conductive materials that extend beyond the extend farther than the liner can cause electricity conduction, making it ineffective.

Associated Training Schools (ATS), which was founded in 1959, offers specialized training, including training for individuals who plan to work with cherry pickers, boom lifts, and in the electrical industry. To learn more about the training programs, call (800) 383-7364.

The ongoing trade tension between China and the United States could have a major impact on the construction industry here in the U.S. if there isn’t a deal reached within the next few months, GlobalData has reported.

Many goods from China, such as aluminum, Canadian lumber, and steel, are needed for home construction and commercial buildings. Since last September, these items have been subjected to a 10 percent tariff.

A construction analyst at Global Data, Dariana Tani, said that higher tariff rates will increase the costs for imported building materials. In turn, the higher costs could cause decreases in job creation and growth in the building industry.

This will affect the spending on infrastructure and will cause disruption of the supply chains and operations of companies. This will also reduce investment in the construction industry and will put construction loans at greater risk.

Curtailing New U.S. Construction Projects

U.S. products subjected to Chinese tariffs could affect the new construction projects based in the U.S. An example of how this came into play took place in October 2018 when a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal being built in Louisiana was postponed by Australia’s LNG Limited following a Chinese-placed 10 percent tariff on all exports from U.S. LNG.

GlobalData’s Tani said that about one-half of the U.S. import value is from intermediate goods, including machine parts, capital equipment, raw materials, and industrial inputs, which is the category into which most Chinese imports that are subjected to the tariffs fall into.

This tariff rate on these products, is like taxing U.S. contractors by increasing the costs of their building materials. At the time of the report, steel producers can’t increase steel production to equal the demand to match the production of foreign steel suppliers. If contractors make the switch to a local U.S. producer, they will face serious delays in receiving the needed building supplies.

This situation might leave contractors in a situation where existing suppliers cannot source what they need so they will need to find a new supplier and pay higher material costs. Contractors and subcontractors will be forced to charge higher prices as well as price risks in their bids. To prevent increasing customer costs, contractors might start cutting corners, which could compromise durability and safety in projects.

Landscaping covers a variety of roles. It covers a variety of activities that modify the visible features of land, including all living elements, such as fauna and flora. Landscaping incorporates gardening, which involves the art and craft of growing plants with the central focus and goal of creating an attractive landscape.

Landscape Equipment

There are several different kinds of equipment used for landscaping. Examples of landscaping equipment include:

• Tractors
• Augers and bits
• Tillers and cultivators
• Snow removal equipment
• Mowers
• Handheld blowers
• Chainsaws
• Brushcutters
• Weedeaters
• Trimmers and edgers
• Pressure washers
• Generators
• Power tools

The Duties of a Landscaper

A landscaper has a variety of responsibilities. Here are some of those duties:

• Building maintenance and groundskeeping tasks.
• Mow the lawn.
• Trim the lawn’s edges, including around walks, flower beds, and walls.
• Plant flowers, grass, shrubs, and bushes and keep them looking their best.
• Fertilize the ground to enhance growth.
• Apply pesticides to get rid of pests, such as ticks, fleas, wasps, and mosquitoes.
• Shovel snow from walkways and ramps.
• Sprinkle salt to prevent falls.
• Remove snow from parking lots.
• Perform routine maintenance duties, such as fixing fountains and applying plaster as needed.
• Sweeping walkways and porches.
• Blowing leaves off sidewalks and away from structures.
• Cutting down dangerous tree limbs.
• Trim shrubs and plants and pull weeds.
• Perform maintenance and minor repairs to landscaping equipment.
• Install lawn furniture.
• Mulch, prune, and rake around the grounds as needed.
• Install cement, rock, water, lighting, and furniture.
• Water plants and grass.

Training and On-the-Job Experience

To handle the duties of landscaping, you need to get the proper training. There are specialty schools that offer those who want to pursue a career in the landscape field the proper training. ATS offers training for many different career fields. To learn more about the landscaping opportunities available and to register for classes, call one of our friendly representatives today at (800) 383-7364.

Rigging and signalperson jobs are in demand. You have probably heard those terms, but you may not know what the jobs entail. A rigger is an individual with the proper degree or certificate or someone who has extensive training and experience or knowledge that enables them to successfully demonstrate their ability to resolve issues that pertain to rigging loads. These are individuals who must have the ability to rig the load for a specific job and properly plan the process.

Topics covered by a rigger training course will include OSHA and ASME standards, the proper use of taglines, knots that are used in rigging, hoisting personnel, hand and voice signals, and the safe usage of slings, rigging hardware, wire rope, and chain and lever hoists. It also involves rigging procedures and practices as well as learning the basics of crane operations.

Signalpersons serve as the eyes and ears on the ground for the crane operator. They must properly signal and communicate with the crane operator so they can avoid crane accidents. Crane operators should never try to work without a qualified signalperson on duty working with them. According to OSHA, a crane operator signalperson must complete specific training to be qualified to perform the job.

Here are some responsibilities of a signalperson:

• Demonstrate their knowledge through practical, oral, and written tests
• Know the crane equipment, its limitations and the dynamics involved in boom and crane lifting and movement
• Know the different kinds of signals used at the job site and can use those signals competently

There are certain times that OSHA requires a signalperson to be on the job. Those times include:

• The load or area near or at the load isn’t within the operator’s full view
• When the equipment is moving, and the direction of movement is obstructed
• When the operator or the individual who is handling the load believes a signalperson is needed for safety concerns

Eligibility requirements to become a certified signalperson:

• Minimum of 18 years of age
• Pass drug screening
• Pass the written exam
• Pass a practical test
• Adhere to the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) Code of Ethics

Rigging and signalperson jobs are in great demand. There are websites where openings are listed. There are also different construction organizations that help companies recruit for the two different positions. Specialized training schools, such as ATS, can also help with job placement. To learn more about training programs for rigging and signalperson positions, contact ATS today at (800) 383-7364.

Common Methods Used For Erosion Control At Construction Sites from YAK MAT